KATHMANDU, Nov 10: Police have detained Lila Ballav Adhikari, the outgoing Minister for Internal Affairs and Law of Koshi Province. Police have taken control of Adhikari for investigation in connection with allegations of human trafficking leveled against him.
Police have prepared to bring Adhikari from Biratnagar via air to the Anti-Human Trafficking Bureau in Kathmandu for an affidavit.
Adhikari has been accused of taking three Nepalis with him to Japan by making fake documents. The incident came to light after the Japanese immigration deported Dawa Sherpa and Janak Rai of Khotang, and Kanchan Devkota of Rasuwa, who had traveled to Japan with the minister. The three were kept in police custody after being deported to Nepal.
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On the basis of the statements of the three deportees, the Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office has arrested three more people on charges of human trafficking. Among those arrested are Jugal Rijal, Bir Bahadur Sunuwar, and Mahesh Pandey. Based on the evidence recovered in the incident, the police officials suspect that the minister had planned the scheme for financial gain.
Following the same allegations, Adhikari had resigned from the post of minister. Adhikari, who is also a provincial assembly member of the CPN-UML, has been suspended by the party even from ordinary membership.
Adhikari has been insisting that he is being framed and he has no direct or indirect involvement in the alleged case of human trafficking. Police have arrested seven people in connection with the case so far.
The party suspended Adhikari and demanded a thorough investigation of the incident and appealed for strict action against all those involved.
This action of the minister has led to sharp criticism from within and outside the party. The provincial leadership of the party has expressed serious displeasure saying that the visit was against the party’s policy and his action defamed the UML.
